Magyar Egyház, 1973 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-06-01 / 6-7. szám
12 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ HIGHLIGHTS OF BISHOP BÉKY’S LIFE AND ACTIVITIES The Rt. Rev. Bishop Zoltán Béky was born on June 21, 1903 at Hemádszentandrás, county of Abauj in Hungary. His family produced many prominent clergymen, educators, and judges since Reformation times. His parents (Sándor Béky and Jolán Szabó) raised four children: two teachers, an agricultural engineer, and a clergyman: Dr. Béky, who was the oldest of the four children. Dr. Béky’s father died in 1957, his mother died in Miskolc, Hungary in 1966. After completing his elementary school education in his native town, Dr. Béky entered Sárospatak Academy, College and Seminary, one of the oldest and finest schools of the Reformed Church of Hungary dating back to Reformation time. From the very beginning he was an eminent scholar, served as president of the undergraduate and graduate student’s councils and won many scholastic and artistic awards for his poetic talents and leadership. He graduated summa cum laude from Sárospatak Theological Seminary, receiving his B.D. degrees in 1927 and was ordained by the Bishop of the Cistiscan Diocese of the Reformed Church of Hungary in the same year. For his outstanding scholarship during his seminary years the Faculty of his Alma Mater nominated him as candidate for postgraduate work in foreign countries. Three distinguished schools invited him with full scholarship: Theological Seminary of Montpellier, France, Princeton Theological Seminary and New Brunswick Seminary both in the U.S.A. Dr. Béky accepted the scholarship of New Brunswick Seminary, where he was enrolled for the academic year 1927/28 for postgraduate studies. The Free Magyar Reformed Church in America invited him to serve as a student pastor in its congregation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His theological studies were continued in the Philadelphia Divinity School where he received his advanced theological degree in 1930 by submitting a thesis “The Immortality of the Soul in the Philosophy of Plato, the Stoics and in the Theology of Paul”. In May 1928 the Hungarian Reformed Church of Trenton, N. J., one of the oldest and largest Hungarian congregations in the U.S.A. elected him from 22 candidates and within a few months the young pastor revived the life of this great historic congregation by reorganization, serious pastorial ministry and a very fine overall leadership ability so characteristic of his outstanding public ministry. Under his inspiration the entire congregation realized the need for modem facilities for Christian Education and social programs of the Church and in 1930, a great Cultural and Educational Center was erected by the Church, first of its kind among the Hungarian Reformed Churches, a beautiful edifice, an abiding testimony to the great parish ministry and vision of Dr. Béky. In 1930 he returned to Hungary where he married his lovely and dedicated wife, Margaret Zombory, a former schoolmate and granddaughter of his favorite professor in theology, George Radácsy, (prominent church leader and Bible translator). Their marriage was blessed by two daughters: Margaret and Gloria. Both daughters married graduates of West Point and officers of the U.S. Army (Lt. Col. Walter Parker and Col. Hugh J. Lynch). Dr. and Mrs. Béky have five grandchildren: Lorika, Zoltán, Robert, Éva and Jimmy. During his long ministry of Trenton, New Jersey the city of Trenton and the State of New Jersey recognized his exceptional talents and many prominent leaders of city and state are among his personal friends. Bishop Béky’s outstanding contributions are well known to the people of Trenton and the people of the State of New Jersey. He served as Commissioner on the Governor’s Committee on Refugee Relief and many other important state and city committees. The Eastern Classis of the Free Magyar Reformed Church in America elected him unanimously as its Dean in 1938. He served with distinction in this position for sixteen years. Bishop Béky’s service as Dean of the Classis had such a lasting contribution that the small classis of six churches increased into a larger unit of 20 congregations from the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The Reformed Church of Hungary also recognized Bishop Béky’s leadership and great ministry. In 1938 he was invited for an evangelistic tour of visitation throughout Hungary with two other prominent American-Hungarian pastors. In 1947, his alma mater, Sárospatak College and Seminary conferred the honorary degree of Theological Professor on Bishop Béky. During his busy years as parish minister and dean of the Eastern Classis Bishop Béky published several volumes of theology and Hungarian Church history. It is to the credit of Bishop Béky’s pastoral concern that he assumed the pastorate of the Roebling
